Ultimate Monkey Bread Recipe Collection: From Classic to Creative Twists
Monkey bread, also known as pull-apart bread or bubble bread, is a sweet, sticky, and utterly irresistible treat that’s perfect for breakfast, brunch, dessert, or even a fun snack. Its playful name comes from the fact that you “monkey around” and pull apart the individual pieces to eat it. This article will delve into the wonderful world of monkey bread, providing you with detailed recipes, helpful tips, and creative variations to satisfy any craving.
The Classic Monkey Bread: A Timeless Delight
Let’s start with the foundation: the classic monkey bread recipe. This version is all about simplicity and comforting flavors. It’s perfect for beginners and a guaranteed crowd-pleaser.
Ingredients:
* **Dough:**
* 3 cups all-purpose flour
* 1/4 cup granulated sugar
* 1 teaspoon salt
* 1 package (2 1/4 teaspoons) active dry yeast
* 1 cup warm milk (110-115°F)
* 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
* 1 large egg
* **Coating:**
* 1 cup granulated sugar
* 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
* 3/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
Equipment:
* Bundt pan (10-12 cup capacity)
* Large mixing bowl
* Small mixing bowls
* Measuring cups and spoons
* Whisk
* Wooden spoon or spatula
Instructions:
**Part 1: Preparing the Dough**
1. **Activate the Yeast:** In a large mixing bowl, combine the warm milk and sugar. Sprinkle the yeast over the top and let it sit for 5-10 minutes, or until foamy. This indicates that the yeast is active and ready to use. If the yeast doesn’t foam, it may be expired and you’ll need to start with fresh yeast.
2. **Combine Wet Ingredients:** Add the melted butter and egg to the yeast mixture. Whisk to combine.
3. **Add Dry Ingredients:** In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour and salt. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing with a wooden spoon or spatula until a shaggy dough forms.
4. **Knead the Dough:** Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead for 5-7 minutes, or until the dough is smooth and elastic. Alternatively, you can use a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook and knead on medium speed for 5 minutes.
5. **First Rise:** Place the dough in a lightly oiled bowl, turning to coat all sides. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap or a clean kitchen towel and let it rise in a warm place for 1-1.5 hours, or until doubled in size. This is crucial for a light and airy monkey bread.
**Part 2: Assembling the Monkey Bread**
1. **Prepare the Coating:** While the dough is rising, prepare the coating. In a small bowl, combine the sugar and cinnamon. In another small bowl, melt the butter.
2. **Form the Balls:** Punch down the risen dough to release the air. Pinch off small pieces of dough, about 1-inch in size. Roll each piece into a ball.
3. **Coat and Layer:** Dip each dough ball into the melted butter, then roll it in the cinnamon-sugar mixture, ensuring it’s fully coated. Place the coated dough balls in the bundt pan, layering them evenly. You can sprinkle any remaining cinnamon-sugar mixture over the top.
**Part 3: Baking the Monkey Bread**
1. **Second Rise:** Cover the bundt pan with plastic wrap or a clean kitchen towel and let it rise for another 30 minutes in a warm place. This final rise ensures the monkey bread is extra fluffy.
2. **Preheat Oven:** Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
3. **Bake:** Bake the monkey bread for 30-35 minutes, or until golden brown and a wooden skewer inserted into the center comes out clean. If the top starts to brown too quickly, you can tent it with aluminum foil.
4. **Cool and Invert:** Let the monkey bread cool in the bundt pan for 10 minutes before inverting it onto a serving plate. Serve warm and enjoy!
Tips for Perfect Classic Monkey Bread:
* **Use fresh yeast:** Expired yeast will not activate properly, resulting in a dense and flat monkey bread.
* **Don’t overheat the milk:** Milk that’s too hot will kill the yeast.
* **Knead the dough well:** Proper kneading develops the gluten, resulting in a light and airy texture.
* **Allow for proper rising:** The dough needs enough time to rise to achieve its full potential.
* **Don’t overbake:** Overbaking will result in a dry monkey bread.
* **Use a good quality bundt pan:** A non-stick bundt pan will make it easier to release the monkey bread.
Savory Monkey Bread: A Flavorful Twist
Who says monkey bread has to be sweet? This savory version is a delicious alternative, perfect for appetizers or a side dish.
Ingredients:
* **Dough:**
* Follow the dough recipe from the classic monkey bread, but reduce the sugar to 2 tablespoons.
* **Filling:**
* 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
* 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
* 1/4 cup chopped sun-dried tomatoes (oil-packed, drained)
* 2 cloves garlic, minced
* 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
* 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
* Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions:
1. **Prepare the Dough:** Follow the dough instructions from the classic monkey bread recipe.
2. **Prepare the Filling:** In a bowl, combine the Parmesan cheese, parsley, sun-dried tomatoes, garlic, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper.
3. **Assemble the Monkey Bread:**
* Punch down the risen dough.
* Pinch off small pieces of dough and roll them into balls.
* Dip each dough ball into the melted butter, then roll it in the cheese mixture.
* Layer the coated dough balls in a greased bundt pan.
4. **Second Rise:** Cover and let rise for 30 minutes.
5. **Bake:** Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C) and bake for 25-30 minutes, or until golden brown.
6. **Cool and Invert:** Let cool for 10 minutes before inverting onto a serving plate.
Variations for Savory Monkey Bread:
* **Cheesy Garlic:** Use different types of cheese, such as cheddar, mozzarella, or Gruyere.
* **Spinach and Artichoke:** Add chopped spinach and artichoke hearts to the filling.
* **Pizza Monkey Bread:** Use pizza sauce, pepperoni, and mozzarella cheese.
* **Jalapeño Cheddar:** Add diced jalapeños and cheddar cheese for a spicy kick.
Caramel Apple Monkey Bread: A Fall Favorite
This monkey bread is a delightful combination of sweet apples, warm cinnamon, and gooey caramel. It’s perfect for autumn gatherings or a cozy weekend breakfast.
Ingredients:
* **Dough:**
* Follow the dough recipe from the classic monkey bread.
* **Filling:**
* 2 medium apples, peeled, cored, and diced
* 1/2 cup granulated sugar
* 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
* 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
* **Caramel Sauce:**
* 1 cup heavy cream
* 1 cup granulated sugar
* 1/2 cup unsalted butter
* 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
* 1/4 teaspoon salt
Instructions:
**Part 1: Preparing the Caramel Sauce**
1. **Combine Ingredients:** In a medium saucepan, combine the heavy cream, sugar, and butter.
2. **Cook and Stir:** Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until the sugar is dissolved and the mixture comes to a boil.
3. **Reduce Heat:** Reduce the heat to low and simmer for 5-7 minutes, or until the caramel is a rich amber color. Be careful not to burn the caramel.
4. **Remove from Heat:** Remove the saucepan from the heat and stir in the vanilla extract and salt. Let the caramel sauce cool slightly.
**Part 2: Assembling the Monkey Bread**
1. **Prepare the Apple Filling:** In a bowl, combine the diced apples, sugar, and cinnamon.
2. **Assemble the Monkey Bread:**
* Punch down the risen dough.
* Pinch off small pieces of dough and roll them into balls.
* Dip each dough ball into the melted butter, then roll it in the apple filling.
* Layer the coated dough balls in a greased bundt pan.
3. **Pour Caramel Sauce:** Pour half of the caramel sauce over the monkey bread before the second rise, reserve the other half for serving.
4. **Second Rise:** Cover and let rise for 30 minutes.
5. **Bake:** Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and bake for 30-35 minutes, or until golden brown.
6. **Cool and Invert:** Let cool for 10 minutes before inverting onto a serving plate. Drizzle with the remaining caramel sauce before serving.
Chocolate Chip Monkey Bread: A Decadent Indulgence
For chocolate lovers, this monkey bread is a dream come true. It’s loaded with chocolate chips and a rich chocolate glaze.
Ingredients:
* **Dough:**
* Follow the dough recipe from the classic monkey bread.
* **Filling:**
* 1 cup chocolate chips (milk, semi-sweet, or dark)
* 1/2 cup granulated sugar
* 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
* 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
* **Chocolate Glaze:**
* 1/2 cup powdered sugar
* 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
* 3-4 tablespoons milk
* 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions:
**Part 1: Preparing the Chocolate Glaze**
1. **Combine Ingredients:** In a small bowl, whisk together the powdered sugar and cocoa powder.
2. **Add Milk:** Gradually add the milk, whisking until smooth. Add the vanilla extract.
3. **Adjust Consistency:** Add more milk if needed to reach your desired consistency. The glaze should be pourable but not too thin.
**Part 2: Assembling the Monkey Bread**
1. **Prepare the Filling:** In a bowl, combine the chocolate chips, sugar, and cinnamon.
2. **Assemble the Monkey Bread:**
* Punch down the risen dough.
* Pinch off small pieces of dough and roll them into balls.
* Dip each dough ball into the melted butter, then roll it in the chocolate chip mixture.
* Layer the coated dough balls in a greased bundt pan.
3. **Second Rise:** Cover and let rise for 30 minutes.
4. **Bake:** Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and bake for 30-35 minutes, or until golden brown.
5. **Cool and Invert:** Let cool for 10 minutes before inverting onto a serving plate. Drizzle with the chocolate glaze before serving.
Tips for Monkey Bread Success (Applies to All Recipes)
* **Yeast is Key:** Always check the expiration date of your yeast. If it’s old, it might not activate properly.
* **Warmth is Your Friend:** Providing a warm environment for the dough to rise is crucial. A slightly warm oven (turned off) or a sunny spot works well.
* **Don’t Overcrowd:** Avoid overfilling the bundt pan. The dough needs room to expand during baking.
* **Check for Doneness:** Use a wooden skewer to check for doneness. If it comes out clean, the monkey bread is ready.
* **Cool Slightly:** Allowing the monkey bread to cool slightly before inverting helps prevent it from falling apart.
* **Serve Warm:** Monkey bread is best served warm, when it’s soft, gooey, and irresistible.
* **Storage:** Store leftover monkey bread in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days.
Creative Monkey Bread Variations
Once you’ve mastered the basic techniques, feel free to experiment with different flavors and ingredients. Here are a few ideas to get you started:
* **Lemon Blueberry:** Add lemon zest and blueberries to the dough and a lemon glaze.
* **Peanut Butter Cup:** Use peanut butter chips and a chocolate glaze.
* **Pumpkin Spice:** Add pumpkin puree and pumpkin pie spice to the dough.
* **Maple Pecan:** Use maple syrup in the dough and add chopped pecans to the filling.
* **Cranberry Orange:** Add dried cranberries and orange zest to the dough and an orange glaze.
Monkey bread is a versatile and fun treat that’s perfect for any occasion. With these recipes and tips, you’ll be able to create delicious and memorable monkey bread creations that everyone will love. So, get ready to monkey around in the kitchen and enjoy the delightful experience of making and sharing this amazing bread!